Point-of-care ultrasound with handheld devices in hematology: a monocentric single-stage phase II study

Point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) with pocket-size devices is an efficient and safe imaging modality that became a standard of care in various clinical settings. However, its implementation in hematology has never been evaluated so far. We conducted a prospective monocentric study aiming to harvest data on its usage and to assess its diagnostic and interventional performance in improving the accuracy of basic physical examination in hematological patients. After a focused training program, six hematologists were trained and conducted this study. Sixty-two patients were included. Only in 19 cases, further specialized imaging was required, whereas, in 43 patients PoCUS was sufficient to address the clinical inquiries. The use of PoCUS devices was assessed for its performance difficulty and usefulness perception with satisfactory outcomes. This study represents a proof-of-concept application of PoCUS in hematology, suggesting benefits over the physical examination.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the benefits of using PoCUS in hematology, showing its potential to improve diagnostic accuracy for patients and its relatively low level of difficulty in application.